Virginia's new Republican attorney general fired a top Jan. 6 investigator from his university post
- The top Jan. 6 committee investigator was let go from his University of Virginia role by the state's new AG.
- The office of Jason Miyares, a Republican, denied that Tim Heaphy's dismissal was political.
The top lawyer for the House committee investigating the Capitol riot was fired from his role at the University of Virginia by the state's new Republican attorney general.
Attorney General Jason Miyares, who took office on January 15, dismissed Tim Heaphy as UVA's counsel. Both the attorney general's office and the university confirmed the news in Sunday statements published by the Associated Press, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.
Counsel for public colleges and universities in Virginia are typically appointed by the state's attorney general, the AP noted.
Victoria LaCivita, a spokeswoman for Miyares, said Heaphy, a Democrat, was not fired because of his work with the January 6 committee, the outlets said.
Instead, she told the outlets that it was done after "reviewing the legal decisions made over the last couple of years" and called him a "controversial" hire, the statements said. She did not elaborate on who what those decisions were, The Post reported.
UVA said in a statement published by The Times: "University leaders are grateful to Tim for his outstanding service to our community and disappointed to see it come to an end," adding that Heaphy's removal was the attorney general's "decision to make."
Heaphy had taken leave from UVA to work on the January 6 committee.
Virginia Sen. Scott Surovell, a Democrat, told The Times: "This is purely payback for Jan. 6 — there is no other reason that makes any sense."
Heaphy told The Times that he was "disappointed" to no longer work at the university, but declined to comment on why he was let go from the role.
Republicans have accused Democrats of using the committee as a political tool to target Republicans and Trump.